Father Rego also had a blog which he wrote to with some infrequency. However, we are blessed with three blog posts the good priest made just days ago, on July 25th, 2007. His previous post was made just over 2 months ago in May. This is a blessing for us as it seems to be his final message to all who come across his blog.

This first one is Father's final blogpost.

BY THE MANDATE ENTRUSTED TO US BY JESUS CHRIST!It has been almost forty years since Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae. As we reflect on the question of direct abortion, it would behoove us to review the teachings of the Catholic Church concerning the transmission of human life - - - teachings that are vastly rejected. Imagine! Over eighty percent of American Catholics reject the teachings of Humanae Vitae, the encyclical issued by Pope Paul VI on July 25, 1968, concerning the transmission of human life.

This is his second from the last post made on the same day on the Sacred Heart Devotion and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

THE ALL POWERFUL LOVE OF MY HEARTFrom the earliest centuries, the Church has shown special devotion to the Sacred Heart. Our Lord confirmed to Saint Margaret Mary the need for this devotion. In so doing, He made twelve extraordinary promises, which she has conveyed to us.

BLESSED BE THE HOLY TRINITY AND UNDIVIDED UNITY!Today is the Feast of the Blessed Trinity. The Introit sets the tone of the Mass: ”Blessed be the Holy Trinity and undivided Unity. We will give Him glory because He has shown mercy to us.” Every day we offer all of our prayers, Masses and Sacraments: “In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Constantly we Catholics invoke and praise the Most Blessed Trinity.

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

My thanks to the email from CathMomOfSix this morning. I contacted Ave Maria Radio and Teresa Tomeo to ask if they could get confirmation this morning. The last thing I wanted to do was to make a mistake on something like this which is why I waited. I was listening to Catholic Answers with Jerry Usher and Tim Staples on internet radio this evening and it was announced over the air. So, I am assuming they were able to verify this sad news.

UPDATE 2: Thanks to David dropping a note into the combox, you can watch some of Fr. Rego's final sermons on YouTube. Each sermon is broken up into several clips. I'll start you with the first one here. I know he was really getting fired up in the beginning of part-2 of the first sermon in the list.

This is something that affects all parishes, I'm sure. Collections go down in the summer as people vacation. Collections in resort towns go up during peak vacation periods.

I only learned recently that summer is when our parish builds some funds to go towards the very expensive winter heating bills. Inasmuch as our own utility bills have gone up, imagine how much more for a place like Grotto with stories-high empty spaces to heat.

In addition to vacation, some Grotto-goers escape the heat by opting for air-conditioned churches near their homes. Health conditions suffered by some mandate this - such as asthma and heart problems, especially for those unaccustomed to the heat. The rest of us I hope are considering the great opportunity for mortification - to offer up our suffering united with Christ's (Col 1:24) for some good cause, like those without homes, or the poor souls in purgatory.

I thought about escaping to a parish near me in the summer when I discovered just how hot an old church can get without air-conditioning. What changed my mind that day in 2005 (the summer I first discovered Grotto) and had me choose sweat over comfort was a little speech given by our pastor, Fr. Perrone, on the very day I jokingly whispered into my cousin's ear that I would be spending the rest of summer in my old parish. It was late June and it had been over 90 for several days. As I sat there thinking about how many times I actually went to "St. Suburbia" in shorts over the years, with air-conditioning, I noticed when Fr. Perrone walked by at the start of Mass that he was wound tightly up the neck in what I would later learn is called an amice. I mean, not a thread of his daily clerical garb or collar were showing, nor should it according to the GIRM (336). My first thought was, "Wow! How hot is he in all of those vestments".

Throughout the Mass, Father, altar boys and lector were all stoic. If the heat was bothering them as it was me, you could barely see them whipe any sweat off their brow, and all had additional layers of clothing on for the Mass.

As he completed his homily that day, Father matter-of-factly turned to the congregation and said something along these lines:

"Summer is obviously here. I know there will be a temptation to come here in shorts and tank-tops. This is not a fashion show, it is the sacrifice of the Mass."

Lifting his arms into the air to show his wardrobe he said, "I would ask you to consider if there is anything you could wear that is appropriate for Mass that could be hotter than what I am wearing right now."

Needless to say, I sheepishly crouched in my pew at how I was considering abandoning my new found parish for a cushy seat in an air-conditioned parish for the summer. It was at that point I silently told God that if my pastor and priests were committed to celebrating holy Mass in all those vestments, and even providing us with weekly Eucharistic Processions in the heat, then I should give them the courtesy of my attendance at Assumption Grotto for Mass.

The priests lead by example, offering up their suffering through the same heat we must endure, but with much more clothing.

Fr. John during Corpus Christi 2006, which was exceptionally hot. The priest doesn't put on shorts or cut back on vestments at Grotto, no matter the tempterature or conditions.

Back to collections, if you really can't be there, you may want to consider a way to keep a steady flow of money going in to our parish even when you cannot be there. Current bills still have to be paid on time and money needs to be saved for winter bills.

Consider dropping your envelope in the mail while you are away, or in my case, I'm going to take advantage of my online banking and just set something up weekly for the year. Anything else that comes up, I can always put in aside from that weekly amount.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

I need to get some work done, including some studies in preparation for a series I hope to begin on this blog about the Blessed Mother, starting with the Queenship of Mary, and the Mother of God. I had intended to do an indepth look at the Assumption and came to the conclusion that it must start first with the subjects I've named above. That led to my desire to do a series which will last indefinitely on a range of Marian topics. Being born in 1962 and growing up in the anti-Marian 70's, I have much to learn about Our Lady and I hope others will share in my learnings through the reading of those posts.

When I am not working or maintaining my home, I will be doing much reading. Some of my reading is shown at the bottom of this post and many of these titles can be picked up in the Grotto Giftshop & Cafe. Posting will be sparse, perhaps every few days. This post offers you much reading for days through other bloggers and newslinks.

Visit the blogs in my sidebar for more Catholic opinion, including the blogs of two deacons (hint: look for "Rev. Mr." in their titles) recently added to my Blogging Priests, Religious & Deacons section.

QUOTEWORTHY

"When we go to Mass we primarily go for what we give, not for what we get.... We give praise, we adore Him.... If you get caught up in that self-centered view of the Eucharist you will loose interest..... It's about Him; it's not about us."

A sword for the Catholic faithFormer WJBK-TV reporter explains it all on his syndicated program

July 28, 2007BY DAVID CRUMMFREE PRESS COLUMNIST

Last week in Ferndale, Michael Voris closed his nationally syndicated Catholic TV show by grasping the hilt of a gleaming gladiator's sword to show the seriousness of his faith. Slowly moving the heavy blade through the air, he warned his audience:

"This life is about spiritual warfare -- every single moment of our lives here. Sometimes the battle is fierce and raging, sometimes it subsides, but we are always -- always -- in spiritual battle."

The Opus Angelorum display, which includes their many outstanding audio recordings from retreats, and items made by the Sisters

Did you know that Assumption Grotto has a Giftshop which is open daily from 8:30 to 10:00 on weekdays and from 11:00 until 2:00 on Sundays?

If you have ever walked into a Catholic book store or giftshop only to find new age material or piles of books on speculative theology, dissent, and other such content you know how confusing it can be to navigate and wonder what you can read without being led astray or into scandal.

All of the material and books available through Assumption Grotto's Giftshop & Cafe must meet a high standard of orthodoxy held by Grotto's pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone. You will find an abundance of rich classics which have guided Catholics for centuries, like the works of many saints. There is no question about the fidelity of material that you will find in our giftshop.

There are things like statues, scapulars, rosaries, medals & more. There is also what I call "Grotto-ware" and other beautiful embroidery by the solid Catholic shop, Mater Admirabilis Embroidery. To get something with Assumption Grotto's name on it, you need to go through the giftshop, but other things can be ordered directly from Adrian (see the website for designs and ordering info). Eventually, we want to get the giftshop up online so we can offer such things to people who are not local.

On Weekdays following the 7:30 or 8:30am Mass, stop in and have a coffee with Cathy and some of the others who run the giftshop and parishioners who stop in before or after you browse. If you don't see the coffee, be sure to ask.

Here is a pastor at work, explaining the new motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, in the church paper and making clear what Vatican 2 did not teach. Here is how it starts out:

Despite what the media tells you, the Pope is not renouncing the Second Vatican Council, he is authentically implementing it. He is correcting the mistakes and misinterpretations that came after the Council. One of them is with the return of the Mass. Contrary to what most of the media tells us, Vatican II did not:

1. order Mass to be said in the Vernacular

2. tell priests to face the people at Mass

3. establish Communion in the hand

4. tell people to stand for reception of Communion

The Mass we now say at St. John’s whether in English or Latin came after the Council. The Council ended in 1965, the new order of the Mass came in 1970.

The Church, since the days of Pope St. Pius X, has encouraged actual participation at the Mass. The 1962 missal contains changes that foster that participation, so the charge of the congregation being dumb spectators is not true.

Friday, July 27, 2007

This is just a reminder that this Sunday, following the Noon Mass and Benediction, the priests of Opus Angelorum are having a Day of Recollection at Assumption Grotto. Details are in this post. It is open to all parishioners and families, as well as non-parishioners.

Fr. Perrone, the pastor of Assumption Grotto, lifts the Body of Christ during the 9:30am Latin Novus Ordo Mass on August 15th, 2006. This is the newer form of the Roman Rite which is celebrated throughout the world, but celebrated in Latin, with Chant, and ad orientem (priest and people facing the Lord together).

I will be dropping reminders here periodically for the feast of the Assumption. Assumption Grotto is the place to be on Assumption Day - August 15th!

This August 15th of 2007 is a very special Assumption Feast Day for our parish. It's not just because it is the name our parish bears. It's also because this year is our 175th anniversary as a parish. How many parishes in Detroit, or the US for that matter, can claim to have been around that long! (I can hear my UK and European readers laughing across the pond as they worship in churches that are so old they make 175 look young).

If you are in metro Detroit and can take a day off on this holy Day of obligation, consider spending it in a day of devotions on a spiritual pilgrimage to our parish. Or, if you are local and have the evening free, do come for the 7:00pm Mass. I also encourage those who would have to travel. Get a carpool together or arrange for a bus. (More info below on bus parking below).

It is important to note that parking is a logistics nightmare for an event this big. It is probably not a good idea to park on surrounding side streets. Security guards will be watching cars in the lots, but any cars parked in the neighborhood, well....you don't want to just park anywhere.

About half of the people in attendance at the outdoor Noon Mass are seen here - August 15th, 2006.

ABOUT THE BISHOPS

Bishop Daniel E. Flores, S.T.D. is the newest Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He attended the University of Texas at Austin for two years prior to entering the seminary in 1981. He graduated from the University of Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1983 and a Master of Divinity in 1987. He was ordained to the priesthood in January 1988. He completed a doctoral degree in the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2000.

Bishop John Michael Quinn - Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit is a member of the Call to Holiness Advisory Board. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 17, 1972 and ordained Bishop August 12, 2003. Bishop Quinn holds a B.A. in philosophy from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; a Master of Divinity from St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth; Masters degrees in Religious Studies and in Systematic Theology from the University of Detroit - Mercy.

ABOUT THE PASTOR

Fr. Eduard Perrone, Pastor of Assumption Grotto Church, parishioners and staff are honored to have Bishop Flores and Bishop Quinn at our special 175th Jubilee Year event celebration, Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 2007.

Get this book!!! There are over 70 pages of references in this short book with just 4 chapters and it is an excellent book. I'm only in Chapter 1 and hooked. Dr. Edward Sri goes through Scripture and leads us right into the thoughts of the Fathers of the Church, the saints, the popes and more. It will deepen your understanding of Mary's Queenship.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Yeah, you read it right. While younger and middle-aged Catholics are finding the spiritual benefits of traditional Catholicism, a retired priest on the other side of the pond in the UK has discovered the blogosphere.

We welcome Fr. Michael Clifton - who says that he is a retired Catholic priest of a traditional "mould". Hence, the name of his blog, "Fr. Mildew". You will be able to find it in the future, by going to the "Blogging Priests and Religious" section in my sidebar.

Some people wonder why priests would spend time on the internet blogging. Well, my personal thought is that the Holy Spirit is guiding them to use this medium to teach us the kind of truths we don't necessarily hear in every parish.

We wish you well Fr. Mildew and we will drop in to pay you a visit.

I pray that Our Lord and Our Lady guides each and every priest who blogs so that they may guide us.

If you are new to this blog and happen to live in the area, you might want to know about our summer Eucharistic processions.

Each Sunday throughout the year, along with other special feast days and solemnities, we will be graced with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by benediction. In bad weather, and during colder months, this is done indoors immediately following the noon Mass. However, spring to fall, at the conclusion of the noon Mass, a brief Eucharistic procession takes place from the Church to the grotto.

I recall all too well my reaction when I first encountered it: Procession? Where? What is going on!?!

If you were born around Vatican II or later, you may never have been exposed to this awesome opportunity. It got shelved along with Mary and silent reverence in Church. Now, a new generation, joined with members of the older generation (you know, the ones who are supposedly just "nostalgic"), and every age in bewteen, keep the tradition alive.

Here are more photos from this past Sunday's procession and benediction.

I have finally taken the plunge and will be adding this symbol to my sidebar. It is a very simple way for bloggers and web-owners to protect things like photos and works, while allowing others to freely copy and distribute. There are several varieties of these licenses and they are free. It is simply making a statement about what you can or cannot do with content found here.

The licensor permits others to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work. In return, licensees may not use the work for commercial purposes — unless they get the licensor's permission.

In other words, it's ok to show my photos on your blog, for example, but if someone wants to use them for commercial purposes they need to contact me. Professionals already know this and I have been contacted several times for permission to use the photos in various mediums. If photos other than mine are sought, which are posted, I will offer to put those seeking their use in touch with the respective parties. I can be reached at TeDeumBlog@aol.com .

To use any of my content on your blog or website, kindly provide a link back to the post it came from or the homepage of my blog. The link may be found by clicking the timestamp at the bottom of the respective post.

The last symbol means:

No Derivative Works. The licensor permits others to copy, distribute, display and perform only unaltered copies of the work — not derivative works based on it.

In plain English, you can't morph or tinker with my photos, put someone else's head on another person's body, and then re-use them elsewhere. However, you can ask me for permission to do these things, within reason.

It's July, and just as I was wondering if the priests of Opus Angelorum were going to do another Day of Recollection, I heard it advertised in the announcements Sunday and there were mini-posters at Grotto.

Folks, these afternoon retreats are a blessing. Come to Grotto for the afternoon starting with holy Mass at Noon, followed by our weekly benediction outdoors (weather permitting), grab a BBQ'd hamburger, hot dog or sausage in our gym and head over to the conferences in the school lounge. Bring the whole family! It is free, but we often pass a basket for those willing and able to give a donation to help support their work.

Here is the complete schedule which runs until around 5:00 with some time built in for adoration, and yet another benediction.

Theme: The Angels and PrayerLocation: Assumption Grotto (click for directions)Noon: Mass2:00 First conference2:45 Break3:00 Second Conference followed by Q & A4:15 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

(Opportunity for Confession)5:00 Final Prayers and Benediction

Click the link for scenes from the July 2006 Day of Recollection (scroll down and click on the links at the bottom of that post for additional coverage of the day).

I promised more photos from yesterday, which was a splended day here in southeast Michigan.

Enjoy these fine photographs, compliments of the Greatest Artist: God, who is the Creator of all things big and small; of the cute and cuddly, as well as the slimey and creepy! If you love God, you will love his creatures and respect them.

Now, I know this is a swallowtail butterfly of some kind, but I've been unable to identify it after looking online at several species of swallowtails. If you know for certain, drop me an email or a put something in the comment box for the benefit of others. It was the body that threw me since I could not find a swallowtail with that kind of line on the body.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

This fellow was marching along and I thought I would share his picture, as well. I have identified this caterpillar as one that will eventually emerge as an American Dagger Moth.

There is a pattern here. Whenever I try to get a picture of a bee at work, another bug decides to get in on the action. This time, it was another bee who landed on the flower as I snapped away.

For those interested, I was using a 300mm lens fully zoomed about 10-15 feet away from the subject. I used various aperature settings (can't remember which was which), and ultimately settled on the Canon EOS 20D's sport-action setting in the end.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

If you don't have the ability to watch EWTN to see Fr. Benedict Groeschel on Sunday Night Live - specifically the episode from their EWTN Family Celebration that aired tonight, find some other means to watch it (and I give you options below).

I have never seen an episode of Sunday Night Live with Fr. Groeschel that I did not like, but this episode was on fire! He spoke about rationalism and how the Historical-Critical Method for interpreting Scripture messed up a good many people - especially priests in their formation. As I watched the show I couldn't help but think that this explains how many in the church have been so disoriented. One casualty was any reference to earlier councils. Fr. Groeschel ties this to why so many priests today just cannot preach effectively on the faith and goes into some interesting details.

Through the history of the Church holy Scripture was read on faith and it was the way the great saints read it, as well as the early Church. Then, in the last 60 years, some people complicated it to the point that only someone with advanced degrees in various languages, history, archeology, etc, would be considered smart enough to read it (if you listened to some scholars - pffffft!!!).

Nevermind what holy Mother Church had given us through the centuries. Fr. Groeschel pointed out something I've been saying all along: God never intended for people to have advanced degrees to "get it". In fact, I have come to the conclusion that when people complicate things to such high levels and it contradicts that which has been taught consistently by the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the great popes, it's time to run the other way. From Hebrews 13:8-9

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever ...... Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings".

At one point, Fr. Groeschel had asked members of the audience to raise their hands if they had heard or been taught certain things, which stemmed from this historical-critical method of interpreting Scripture. I can't remember them all, but it is hard to forget some. For example, he wanted to know if anyone had heard that Jesus didn't know he was divine, or something to that effect. It was sad to see so many people raise their hands. To say Jesus was unaware of his divinity is absurd. If Jesus is God, then how can God not be aware of his own divinity? Duh!

Far fewer people had raised their hands when the priest asked members of the audience to raise their hand if they had heard that Jesus' resurrection was merely "spiritual", as in not physical or bodily resurrection. How did this great teaching priest respond so that we would remember what it means to have a "spiritual resurrection"? I give you a classic Fr. Benedict Groeschel quote and great comeback to keep in your pocket. He said,

"A good example of someone who has undergone a spiritual resurrrection is Elvis Presley!"

- Fr. Benedict Groeschel on Sunday Night Live from the EWTN Family Celebration (July 22, 2007)

I got some beautiful pictures on this most beautiful of balmy days in southeast Michigan. I took my camera today to get many things done and the Lord granted me a wonderful morning outdoors.

It started around 8:30am in the grotto area where we have a statue of Bernadette and an angel. The angel is a fountain and the robins have taken a liking to the basin. Evidence, in fact, is all over both statues. Needless to say our robins have been on a steady diet of blueberries and blackberries.

Here are a few samples of what I got this morning, with more posts to come.

In this first photo, you see Bernadette kneeling, with the wings of the angel in the foreground.

This is a photo of the angel, with one of his visiting robin friends about to take a bath (see him perched up there on the top of the wing). Interspersed in photos that follow, you will see a few more of the birds in the fountain bowl. I was quite a distance away and the sun was not in the best spot to capture them in good lighting, but you get the general idea. At one point when I was sitting there, three robins took turns with a refreshing morning bath.

Now, this next one merits a word, as well. It started out to be a closeup photo of a bumblebee going about his work. To the left in the pic, is a spec and it is not a spec. It turns out that I captured an insect who is dwarfed by the size of the bee. Hence, I got a bonus! Click on the pic to enlarge it and look at that little bugger.

More photos will come, including some closeups of a butterfly on the coneflowers, which are a major attractant for them. I also took a few photos of the outdoor procession and benediction today, as they happen each and every Sunday from Spring to Fall, weather permitting.

Oh, what a jewel of an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution there in Georgia - a place where I once lived and a city I fell in love with.

Here is some real straight-talk on the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, by Lorraine Murray and she nails it all perfectly. I don't know if this is one of those news sites that only posts an article for a limited time, so I bring it to you in it's entirety for your reading pleasure!

God bless you, Lorraine! My emphases in bold and comments in red.

The Latin Mass not cause for contention

By Lorraine V. MurrayPublished on: 07/21/07

In the sixties, hippies shunned their elders' traditions, including their approach to paying bills, which involved jobs. With time, however, many hippies traded love beads for suits and realized that working beat living on the streets.

Hippies are long gone, but the anti-tradition crowd lives on and reared its head recently when Pope Benedict XVI announced that the Latin Mass would be more widely offered to Catholics.

Some folks protested that the Church was moving backward instead of forward, but what's wrong with that?

First, a little background: The liturgy of the Tridentine Mass, usually celebrated in Latin, dates back to the sixth century.

And it was the only option for Catholics until the Second Vatican Council rolled out an updated Mass in the vernacular in the 1960s.

Although the Latin Mass was still celebrated after that, it became rarer than the proverbial hen's tooth and today might exist in one parish among hundreds of others.

That one parish for Atlanta's Catholics is in Mableton, where the pews at St. Francis de Sales are filled with parishioners from all over the city, as well as adjacent states.

Clearly, there are people who love this reverent and ancient liturgy and will travel far to find it [and why should they have to travel so far, and how many more would be attending if it weren't so far?].

Which may baffle advocates of the newer Mass.

After all, isn't a Latin liturgy confusing and unintelligible? And doesn't the priest show disrespect to the congregation by turning his back toward them during these Masses?

No on both scores: Catholics who cherish tradition find beauty in Latin, which is an unchanging language. And even children follow along at Latin Masses without confusion, since the missals post the vernacular side by side with Latin.

Another wonderful thing about the Latin liturgy is that Catholics can attend Mass anywhere in the world and worship God just like at home, since Latin remains fixed in Nigeria, Paris or Idaho.

As for those critics who claim the priest is disrespecting the people in the pews: He and the entire congregation traditionally faced East, which symbolizes the risen Christ.[I'll add to this by saying for me, it aided in my seeking the face of God in the Mass, rather than seeking the face of the priest. This heightens my worship of God, who should be at the center of the Mass in all of our hearts.]

I grew up with the Latin liturgy, and when I stepped into the sanctuary, I entered another dimension entirely. [I can relate to that. Step out of the busy, contemporary world and into a sanctuary of prayer where silence is actually deafening!].

One that was serene and dignified, fragrant with incense and echoing with Gregorian chant.[Yeah - the smells upon entering the doors at Assumption Grotto, where incense is used every Sunday at the 9:30am Latin Novus Ordo are inviting to prayer]

Before long, I knew all the prayers in Latin by heart, so when the priest said, "Dominus vobiscum," I knew he meant, "The Lord be with you." [Ditto. I've only been attending the Latin Novus Ordo at Grotto for just over two years and this is my experience with all of the Latin responses, and to many of the parts to which I now listen. This carried over into my one and only experience with the old Latin Mass I attended, on Ascension Thursday at St. Josaphat in Detroit]

Unfortunately, the post-Vatican II Mass has led to some egregious problems.

Traditional Gregorian chant gave way in some parishes to awful, folksy, feel-good music. Organs gathered dust, while guitars and drum machines took center stage.[And, this gave way not only to casual appearance (shorts, tank tops, etc., but it gave way to casual attitudes and replaced reverence. Relationship with God became just as casual - I'm ok, you're ok. I should know, I was guilty, and I find it still difficult to walk into such a casual liturgical atmosphere to not begin to drift back into that casual demeanor.]

Obviously, I favor the traditional Mass, but I see no reason to turn Benedict's proclamation into a war between conservatives and liberals. Instead of girding for battle, let's look at the larger picture.

For one, the pope is not doing anything radical. He is merely giving Roman Catholics greater access to something that is their birthright, since the Latin liturgy was standard for many centuries.

After Vatican II, it took a bishop's permission for such a Mass to be offered, but, thanks to Benedict, all that's needed now is a willing pastor in one's local parish.

People who favor Mass in their local language are not being asked to give it up[as many news articles will have you believe. You would think, by the reaction of some in the media, that King Kong had entered into our midst. But, I believe it is because they fear the loss of the casual among those who will discover and gravitate to the more formal way of worship. This will undoubtedly yield people who know their faith better, who will no longer find acceptable many things the media tries to jam down our throats, which run counter to our faith - in particular, the culture of death]. But those who have sat longingly in the pews, missing the powerful liturgy their ancestors enjoyed, now can have their day. In a church that prides itself on being universal, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Lorraine V. Murray is the author of "Grace Notes. Embracing the Joy of Christ in a Broken World" and "Why Me? Why Now? Finding Hope When You Have Breast Cancer." She works in the Pitts Theology Library at Emory University. Web site: http://www.lorrainevmurray.com/

Friday, July 20, 2007

I've been saying for the past year that I believe I may actually live long enough to see recognizable nuns back in parishes and running schools.

I know there are many females out there who want a traditional and orthodox religious life experience, but in many cases this often means a cloister. For those who are attracted to the old Mass looking for contemplative life in communion with Rome, I am aware of the Sister Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest and, a new community - the Benedictines of Mary. The Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans and their sister order, the Dominicans of St. Cecelia in Nashville are probably among the few exceptions of more traditional orders because they are semi-contemplative, traditional and orthodox (meaning semi-active). The latter are not, to my knowledge, celebrating the old Mass, but that may change with the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum. Other orders may include the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal who are tied to the very orthodox Fr. Benedict Groeschel and work among the poorest of the poor. What is lacking here, are ordinary parish nuns - habited!

We need active nuns back into parishes the way they use to be. I'd go so far as to say I wish some diocese would pilot it in a few parishes, filling those positions with nuns from the more traditional, semi-contemplative orders. More young girls will respond if this becomes an option because not all are called to the contemplative life or to working with the poor. Furthermore, we all need sisters back in parishes to invigorate parish life and to be role models to young women who may not hear that call without such examples in their lives. I pray that other bloggers will begin to discuss this to highlight the need.

FSSP ACTS ON GRACE IN RESPONSE TO WOMEN

Here is more proof and this time, it comes from the FSSP - the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, known for their celebration of the old Latin Mass acknowledging that young women are indeed interested in serving at FSSP parishes. This is quite fascinating and I am grateful they are responding to what I believe is a grace of the Holy Spirit. It is just a training course at this point but I fully expect to see it mushroom and then for the concept to spill over into Novus Ordo communities that are more traditional and orthodox.

Unfortunately, the training is not here in the US, but in France. However, anyone from any country may go, but they stipulate what is required for that to happen below.

For several years the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter has received requests from young ladies asking whether we could help them answer a possible calling to an apostolic (non contemplative) consecrated life. These young ladies wish to devote themselves to God in the active service of the neighbour in a parochial setting, or possibly in our missions. We propose to them a Vocational Training Program within the following framework :

1) Duration: from October 2007 until June 2008 included, in Perpignan (Southern France) under the responsibility of Fr. William Vojtek, FSSP. Applications to be sent (see address below) until September 14, 2007.

2) Program: Initiation with the spiritual life and the community life; secondarily: pedagogics, liturgical chant and parochial services (for example teaching children, visiting the persons in need, contributing to sacristy tasks).

3) Trainers: The trainees will be under the pastoral responsibility of priests from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (an international community of pontifical right, of Extraordinary Roman rite). Director of the training course: Fr. William Vojtek, FSSP: with a rich experience of many years in the formation of applicants to consecrated apostolic life, also in regular contacts with numerous religious female communities. Fr. Jean-Eric Diehr, FSSP, a medical doctor, will bring additional training on some psychological aspects of the pastoral service. Visiting speakers, in particular some apostolic religious nuns, are envisaged.

4) Costs: The expenses of lodging, teaching and subsistence will be covered by the FSSP, but transport charges, health insurance and personal expenditure will have to be covered by the trainees or their families.

5) Engagements: no formal promises or vows of any kind and no religious habit during these 9 months.

6) Criteria: French-speaking young ladies (from any country), at least 18 years of age, baptized Catholics, in good physical and psychological health.

7) Next step: If it pleases God, the training course will lead to a formation with the consecrated life (in a noviciate linked with the FSSP), but it does not guarantee it. It is expected that such further formation might be provided in North America. However, the training course is conceived in itself as an enriching experience, offering to young ladies a 9-month initiation to the spiritual and community life, including teaching and charity work, during one school year. The training course will have achieved an estimable goal while bringing the benefit of a spiritual maturation and a deepening of the Christian virtues in the service of neighbours, through the Roman traditions of the Church.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

St. John of the Cross

Dark Night of the Soul (2.2:3)...

"...the devil causes many to believe in vain visionsand false prophecies; and strives to make them presumethat God and the saints are speaking with them; and they often trust their own fancy. And the devil is also accustomed, in this state, to fill them with presumption and pride, so that they become attracted by vanity and arrogance, and allow themselves to be seen engaging in outward acts which appear holy, such as raptures and other manifestations. Thus they become bold with God, and lose holy fear, which is the key and the custodian of all the virtues; and in some of these souls so many are the falsehoods and deceits which tend to multiply, and so inveterate do they grow, that it is very doubtful if such souls will return to the pure road of virtue and true spirituality."